Fence post and fence formed therefrom

ABSTRACT

A fence post ( 1 ) which is adapted to release from a substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood. A plurality of fence post(s) may be used to form a fence ( FIG. 8 ). Each fence post ( 1 ) includes an engaging means ( 7 ) at a first end thereof, which is adapted to release from a substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood, and, a retaining means ( 5 ) at a second end thereof to retain the post near its pre-released position, such that the fence posts may be easily re-installed after the flood has passed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fence post which may be installed in situations prone to rising water or flood, and also, to a fence formed using a plurality of such fence posts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The reference to any prior art in the specification is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

In areas prone to flood, such as, but not limited to farms or other properties, it is not uncommon for fences on or around the farms or other properties to be substantially destroyed during floods and the like.

In such situations, not only does the water rise, but the water flow can sometimes be rapid in a direction from higher to lower ground, even on only slight inclines. Any debris, trees, shrubs, or other objects in the path of the moving and rising water is moved together with the flood waters as they travel. Such debris, trees, shrubs, and other objects tend to cause a considerable amount of damage when they contact any fixed item in their path.

Typically, when flood waters carrying debris, trees, shrubs, and other objects contact a fence in their pathway, the debris, trees, shrubs, and other objects become entangled in the fence. Depending upon the force of the flood waters, the fence may or may not withstand the forces exerted upon it by the debris, trees, shrubs, and other objects. In some situations, the debris and other matter is stalled by the fence, and after the flood waters recede, the debris and other matter is deposited along the fence line. In other situations, particularly in strong floods, the debris and other matter exerts such forces against the fence, that the fence typically gives way and breaks, allowing release of the debris and other matter. This situation is prone to be quite dangerous, especially where there has been significant build up of debris or other matter, as the debris or other matter is suddenly released and can cause quite a devastating effect on persons or objects downstream therefrom.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to overcome some of the problems experienced by prior art fencing, especially during floods or rising waters.

In one broad form, the present invention provides a fence post which is adapted to release from a substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood.

Preferably, at least a part of said fence post is adapted to float in the event of rising water or flood.

Also preferably, the fence post further includes engaging means at a first end thereof, which is adapted to release said first end of said fence post from said substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood.

Preferably, the fence post further includes retaining means at a second end thereof, which, when said engaging means releases said first end of said fence post from said substrate surface, substantially retains said second end of said post at or near its pre-released position.

Preferably, said retaining means permits transverse movement of said post in at least one dimension.

Also preferably, the engaging means of the fence post further includes a latch which is adapted to float, such that, in the event of rising water or flood, said latch is moved from a first position in which said fence post is secured to said substrate surface, to a second position in which said fence post is no longer secured to said substrate surface.

Preferably, said engaging means includes a buoyant portion which is adapted to substantially float to effect operation of said engaging means.

Also preferably, said engaging means include a float connected thereto, said float being formed at least partly of buoyant material, to effect operation of said engaging means.

Also preferably, the engaging means of the fence post further includes:

-   -   anchor means, having a substrate engaging end which is secured         substantially below said substrate surface; and,     -   a latch engaging end which effectively enables said first end of         said fence post to be secured to said substrate surface.

Preferably, said anchor means is adapted to be received in a receiving means, said receiving means being anchored in said substrate surface.

Preferably, a body of said fence post is formed of hollow plastics or other lightweight floatable material.

Also preferably, said body of said fence post is shaped to be buoyant such that it assumes a substantially upright position when floating.

In a further broad form, the present invention provides a fence having a plurality of fence posts, at least one of said fence posts being a releasable fence post which is adapted to release from a substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood.

Preferably, each releasable fence post is adapted to float in the event of rising water or flood.

Also preferably, each releasable fence post includes engaging means at a first end thereof, which is adapted to release said first end of said releasable fence post from said substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood.

Also preferably, retaining means at a second end thereof, which, when said engaging means releases said first end of said fence post from said substrate surface, substantially retains said second end of said post at or near its pre-released position.

The fence preferably also further includes:

-   -   a pair of spaced apart cable supports; and,     -   a cable spanning said cable supports in a manner such that it is         spaced above a substrate surface;     -   whereby, said retaining means of each releasable fence post         engages said cable. In yet a further broad form, the present         invention provides a fence having:     -   a pair of spaced apart cable supports;     -   a cable spanning said cable supports in a manner such that it is         spaced above a substrate surface;     -   at least one releasable post positioned between said cable         supports, each releasable post including:         -   engaging means at a first end thereof, adapted to release             said first end of said post from said substrate surface in             the event of rising water or flood; and,         -   cable engaging means at a second end thereof, adapted to             hold said second end of said post to said cable when said             first end of said post is released from said substrate.

Preferably, said engaging means includes a latch which is adapted to float, such that, in the event of rising water or flood, said latch is moved from a first position in which said fence post is secured to said substrate surface, to a second position in which said fence post is no longer secured to said substrate surface.

Preferably, said engaging means includes a buoyant portion which is adapted to substantially float to effect operation of said engaging means.

Also preferably, said engaging means includes a float connected thereto, said float being formed at least partly of buoyant material, to effect operation of said engaging means.

Also preferably, said engaging means further includes anchor means, having a substrate engaging end which is secured substantially below said substrate surface, and, a latch engaging end which effectively enables said first end of said fence post to be secured to said substrate surface.

Preferably, each said anchor means is adapted to be received in a receiving means, each said receiving means being anchored in said substrate surface.

Preferably, a body of each releasable fence post is formed of hollow plastics or other lightweight floatable material.

Also preferably, said body of each releasable fence post is shaped to be buoyant such that it assumes a substantially upright position when floating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of preferred, but non-limiting embodiments thereof, described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates various views of a first preferred embodiment of a fence post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of a fence post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates how the second embodiment of the fence post may be released, FIG. 3( a) showing the fence post in a dry situation, FIG. 3( b) illustrating the fence post in a situation where water is beginning to rise, and FIG. 3( c) illustrating the fence post in a situation of flood;

FIG. 4 illustrates a fence, including a plurality of fence posts of the second embodiment, installed in a dry riverbed situation;

FIG. 5 illustrates a fence, comprising a plurality of fence posts of the second embodiment, installed in a riverbed situation wherein the waters in the riverbed are rising or flooding;

FIG. 6 illustrates a third preferred embodiment of a fence post in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates how the third embodiment of the fence post may be released, FIG. 7( a) showing the fence post in a dry river situation, FIG. 7( b) illustrating the fence post in a situation where water is beginning to rise, and, FIG. 7( c) illustrating the fence post in a situation of flood;

FIG. 8 illustrates a fence, including a plurality of fence posts of the third embodiment, installed in a dry riverbed situation; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a fence, including a plurality of fence posts of the third embodiment, wherein the waters in a riverbed are rising or flooding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be used to identify similar features except where expressly otherwise indicated.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show two preferred embodiments of a fence post in accordance with the present invention. The fence post in accordance with the present invention is adapted to release from a substrate surface, in the event of rising water or flood. The fence post, generally designated by the numeral 1 includes an engaging means 2 at a first end of the fence post 1, which is adapted to release the first end 3 from a substrate surface 4 in the event of rising water or flood.

The fence post 1 further includes a retaining means 5, the second end of the fence post 1 which, when the engaging means 2 releases the first end 3 of the fence post 1 from the substrate surface 4, substantially retains the second end 6 at or near its pre-released position.

The retaining means 5 therefore permits movement of the post 1 transverse to the longitudinal axis of the post 1 in at least one dimension, as will described hereafter.

The engaging means 2 may be embodied in a variety of forms. Two examples are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the engaging means 2 may be embodied in a variety of other forms. With reference to FIG. 2, the engaging means 2 may include a latch arrangement 7 with a float, such that in the event of a flood or rising waters, the float 8 is adapted to pivot between the positions shown in FIGS. 2 a and 2 c, to release the latch 7 from the substrate surface 4 or an anchor 9 connected to the substrate surface 4, to the position shown in FIG. 2 c in which the lower end 3 of the fence post 1 is no longer secured to the substrate surface anchor 9.

The anchor 9 may have a substrate engaging end 10 which may be secured substantially below the substrate surface 4, and a latch engaging end 11 which effectively enables the first end 3 of the fence post 1 to be secured to the substrate surface 4.

The fence post 1 of the present invention may be formed of hollow plastics material, or other lightweight floatable material. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body of the fence post 1 may be shaped to assume a substantially buoyant position when floating. For example, in FIG. 1 b is shown the profile of a typical fence post formed in accordance with the present invention, having lower surfaces 12 and 13 which are adapted to float atop the water, and upper surfaces 14 and 15. The typical water surface might be located as shown by dashed line 16. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that a variety of other shapes may however be utilised in the fence post to achieve a similar purpose.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a fence 17 formed of a plurality of fence posts 1 as hereinbefore described. The particular embodiment described in FIGS. 4 and 5 is in a riverbed or similar situation, that is, of undulating terrain. The fence includes a pair of spaced-apart fixed posts acting as cable supports 18. The support posts 18 are securely fastened to the substrate surface 4. A cable 19, which may be formed of wire rope or otherwise spans the support 18 such that it is spaced above the substrate surface 4. A plurality of releasable posts 1 are positioned intermediate the cable supports 18. Each releasable post 1 is formed as hereinbefore described, having an engaging means 2 at a first end 3 thereof which is adapted to release the first end 3 of the post 1 from the substrate 4 in the event of a flood or raised water, and, a cable engaging means 5 at a second end 6 thereof, adapted to hold the second end 6 of the post 1 to the cable 19 when the first end 3 of the post 1 is released from the substrate surface 4.

Also as hereinbefore described each engaging means 2 includes a latch 7 which is adapted to float such that in the event of a flood or raised water, the latch 7 is moved from a first position in which the fence post 1 is secured to the substrate 4, to a second position in which the fence post 1 is no longer secured to the substrate 4. This may be achieved using the anchor mechanism as hereinbefore described in relation to FIG. 2, which has a substrate engaging end 10 which is secured substantially below the substrate surface 4, and a latch engaging end 11 which effectively enables a first end 3 of the fence post 1 to be secured to the substrate surface 4.

Whilst FIG. 4 shows the fence arrangement when the riverbed or substrate surface 4 is dry, FIG. 5 shows a raised water level 20 showing the typical positioning of the fence 17 in such situation. As seen, when the water is flowing generally in the direction of arrow 20 the raised water level automatically disengages the lower ends 3 of posts 1 from the substrate surface 4, and the fence effectively “floats” on the raised water surface 20. As can been seen from FIG. 5 a, each fence post 1 therefore “floats” allowing the water and any other debris contained therein to effectively pass under the fence. The “boat-like” shape of the fence posts maintain the fence in a consistent manner as shown in FIG. 5 a such that the fence wires 22 do not become entangled. As also shown in FIG. 5, due to the direction of flow 21, the fence is shifted slightly downstream, but substantially maintains the fence in a consistent manner. As the water level recedes, the fence will likewise float down. The fence posts may therefore be easily reattached to the substrate using the latch once the water level has totally receded.

It will be appreciated that this arrangement results in the quick and easy repositioning of the fence after a flood situation rather than a whole new fence having to be effectively rebuilt.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative preferred embodiment of the fence post in accordance with the present invention. In this version, the engaging means 2 at the first end of each fence post 1 is adapted to be inserted in a respective complementary post receiver 23 which is anchored into the substrate surface. Each post receiver 23 has a tapered portion to receive the engaging portion 2 of the respective post 1, and, a lip or the like therearound 24 to which the latch 7 may be engaged. A different version of a float 8 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the float being secured to a rod or cable arrangement 24 which is itself adapted to undergo movement, being connected at it ends by latch 7 and arm 25. It will therefore be appreciated that the arrangement formed by latch 7, arm 25 and its interconnected members 24 and float 28 will be able to undergo pivotal movement from the position shown in FIG. 6( f) to the position shown in FIG. 6( b) as the water rises. This is further illustrated in FIG. 7 as is the different arrangement of ground engaging portion.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a fence 17 formed of a plurality of fence posts 1 as hereinbefore described, using the embodiment of fence posts as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Operation of the device is similar to that as hereinbefore described in relation to FIGS. 4 and 5.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications will become apparent. For example, different types of latching mechanisms etc will be envisaged. The releasable posts, rather than being secured at their upper ends by a cable running therethrough, may alternatively be individually pivoted and secured to their own support posts. Such an arrangement might enable the automatic repositioning of the fence post after a flood situation without requiring manual assistance.

These and all other variations and modifications which become apparent to persons skilled in the art should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as broadly herein before described and as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A fence post which is adapted to release from a substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood.
 2. A fence post as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a part of said fence post is adapted to float in the event of rising water or flood.
 3. A fence post as claimed in claim 1 or 2, including: engaging means at a first end thereof, which is adapted to release said first end of said fence post from said substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood.
 4. A fence post as claimed in claim 3, further including: retaining means at a second end thereof, which, when said engaging means releases said first end of said fence post from said substrate surface, substantially retains said second end of said post at or near its pre-released position.
 5. A fence post as claimed in claim 4, wherein said retaining means permits transverse movement of said post in at least one dimension.
 6. A fence post as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said engaging means includes: a latch, which, in the event of rising water or flood, is adapted to move from a first position in which said fence post is secured to said substrate surface, to a second position in which said fence post is no longer secured to said substrate surface.
 7. A fence post as claimed in claim 6, wherein said engaging means includes a buoyant portion which is adapted to substantially float to effect operation of said engaging means.
 8. A fence post as claimed in claim 6, wherein said engaging means include a float connected thereto, said float being formed at least partly of buoyant material, to effect operation of said engaging means.
 9. A fence post as claimed any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said engaging means further includes: anchor means, having a substrate engaging end which is secured substantially below said substrate surface, and, a latch engaging end which effectively enables said first end of said fence post to be secured to said substrate surface.
 10. A fence post as claimed in claim 9, wherein said anchor means is adapted to be received in a receiving means, said receiving means being anchored in said substrate surface.
 11. A fence post as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a body of said fence post is formed of hollow plastics or other lightweight floatable material.
 12. A fence post as claimed in claim 11, wherein said body of said fence post is shaped to be buoyant such that it assumes a substantially upright position when floating.
 13. A fence having a plurality of fence posts, at least one of said fence posts being a releasable fence post which is adapted to release from a substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood.
 14. A fence as claimed in claim 13, wherein each releasable fence post is adapted to float in the event of rising water or flood.
 15. A fence as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein each releasable fence post includes: engaging means at a first end thereof, which is adapted to release said first end of said releasable fence post from said substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood.
 16. A fence as claimed in claim 15, wherein each releasable fence post includes: retaining means at a second end thereof, which, when said engaging means releases said first end of said fence post from said substrate surface, substantially retains said second end of said post at or near its pre-released position.
 17. A fence as claimed in claim 16, further including: a pair of spaced apart cable supports; and, a cable spanning said cable supports in a manner such that it is spaced above a substrate surface; whereby, said retaining means of each releasable fence post engages said cable.
 18. A fence having: a pair of spaced apart cable supports; a cable spanning said cable supports in a manner such that it is spaced above a substrate surface; at least one releasable post positioned between said cable supports, each releasable post including: engaging means at a first end thereof, adapted to release said first end of said post from said substrate surface in the event of rising water or flood; and, cable engaging means at a second end thereof, adapted to hold said second end of said post to said cable when said first end of said post is released from said substrate.
 19. A fence as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein each said engaging means includes a latch, which in the event of rising water or flood, said latch is adapted to move from a first position in which said fence post is secured to said substrate surface, to a second position in which said fence post is no longer secured to said substrate surface.
 20. A fence as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein each said engaging means includes a buoyant portion which is adapted to substantially float to effect operation of said engaging means.
 21. A fence as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein each said engaging means includes a float connected thereto, said float being formed at least partly of buoyant material, to effect operation of said engaging means.
 22. A fence as claimed in claim 19, wherein each said engaging means further includes: anchor means, having a substrate engaging end which is secured substantially below said substrate surface, and, a latch engaging end which effectively enables said first end of said fence post to be secured to said substrate surface.
 23. A fence as claimed in claim 22, wherein each said anchor means is adapted to be received in a receiving means, each said receiving means being anchored in said substrate surface.
 24. A fence as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 23, wherein a body of each releasable fence post is formed of hollow plastics or other lightweight floatable material.
 25. A fence as claimed in claim 24, wherein said body of each releasable fence post is shaped to be buoyant such that it assumes a substantially upright position when floating. 